Books are still the best source of information about the history of television.
This is a very incomplete list of commonly referenced texts on various aspects of TV history, both technical
and social. I include comments if I have read the book, and invite
comments from others.
Tube
by David E. Fisher and Marshall J. Fisher
A very complete and readable technical history, with emphasis on the
work of Baird, Farnsworth and Zworykin. A good chapter on the
development of color TV also.
Good pictures, extensive notes and bibliography.
An on-line review is available from
Red Herring.
A press release on the book is at the
NJARC site.
Distant Vision
by Elma G. Farnsworth
A loving biography of Philo Farnsworth by his wife, with quite a few photos.
Good, even exciting, reading, not too technical. Few footnotes and a
sketchy bibliography.
Philo's widow's book can be ordered on-line from
The Farnsworth Chronicles.
The Invention of Television
by Harry Shelton
A slim "vanity press" book that covers a lot of territory in its 92 pages
of text, none of it terribly well. A lot about the technology necessary
for television to be practical. A few excellent and rare illustrations.
Several errors and typos. No bibliography or index.
There is a preview and order form at
Belltowne Publishing.
Please Stand By - A Prehistory of Television
by Michael Ritchie
Mostly about the social and programming aspects
of television prior to 1948, with some good technical chapters and several
interesting characters. Some of the information is muddled and
confusing.
History of Television, 1880 - 1941
by Albert Abramson The reference book on early television.
Extraordinarily comprehensive chronological history of the early days of television
technology throughout the world. Extensive footnotes and bibliography.
However, Abramson cannot resist printing every piece of information he's gathered,
even when it's dense patent language or clumsy translations of
foreign-language texts. Illustrations are murky.
The Mechanics of Television
by Peter Yanczer
A small (172 pages), practical text on understanding and building mechanical
television cameras and displays, self-published by probably the only living
expert on the subject. A mixture of history, theory and ancient and modern
practice. Good illustrations. Slim index and bibliography.
The Golden Age of Televisions
by Philip Collins
A small (131 pages) book of excellent photographs of television
receivers, in chronological order from the 1920s to 1990. There is some text,
but the photos are prime. No technical information, sources or references. Some
minor errors.
Seeing by Wireless
by Ray Herbert
Biography of John Logie Baird.
A review is available on-line at
Quantel's site.
Vision Warrior
by Tom McArthur and Peter Waddell
Biography of John Logie Baird.
The Story of Television -- The Life of Philo Farnsworth
by George Everson
Biography of Farnsworth by a long-time colleague.
